Italians Win B1 Division

The fifth Blind Sailing World Championship on lake Garda, which concluded at the weekend, was won in the B1 category by the Italian team of Gigi Bertanza and Raul Pietrobon.

Split into 3 divisions, the B1 division is categorised with a totally blind skipper and the whole event is sailed in the Italian designed Protagonist 7.5 and the Dolphin 8.1, all chartered off boat owners for the duration.

In the B2 division, for visually impaired skippers sailed in the Protagonist, early favourites New Zealand eventually won with a total of 14 points. Second were the American team skippered by Vince Morvillo from Texas.

The B3 division, also for visually impaired skippers but sailed in the Dolphin 8.1, was won by Gary Kirby from Great Britain, on a split tie for thirty points from the New Zealand team skippered by Tony Holmes.

The Squadron Cup for the team trophy was won by Great Britain followed by New Zealand and Italy in third.

Overall Top Three

B1 Division-Totally Blind Skipper Boats Sailed- Protagonist 7.5 Meters

B2 Division- Visually Impaired Blind Skipper Boats Sailed- Protagonist 7.5 Meters

B3 Division – Visually Impaired Blind Skipper Boats Sailed- Dolphin